James Cameron’s Avatar franchise is a titanic force in the film industry, having established three significant box office milestone records that show no signs of being surpassed anytime soon. With both Avatar and its sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water, achieving monumental commercial success, the franchise continues to generate buzz and ensure its legacy. As Cameron embarks on multiple planned sequels, the potential for new records to emerge remains high.
Released in 2009, Avatar holds the title of the highest-grossing film of all time, captivating audiences and critics alike. The anticipation surrounding its sequel was palpable, making it remarkable that Avatar: The Way of Water emerged as an extraordinary success nearly 13 years later. Currently, it ranks as the third highest-grossing film of all time, with both installments grossing over $2 billion globally. This impressive financial trajectory hints at a promising future for upcoming Avatar films.
Avatar Leads the Pack as Fastest Franchise to Hit $3 Billion, $4 Billion & $5 Billion
Achieved with Just Two Films
With Avatar: The Way of Water shattering box office expectations, the franchise achieved a remarkable feat—becoming the fastest to amass $3 billion, $4 billion, and $5 billion in gross income, all achieved through only two films. The original Avatar raked in $2.923 billion while its sequel contributed $2.32 billion, pushing the combined total to a groundbreaking $5 billion.
While fifteen movie franchises have crossed the $5 billion threshold, Avatar remains unique in achieving this milestone with only two installments. To give perspective, at least one movie in any other franchise that reached this total would need to gross over $2.5 billion, with Avengers: Endgame being the only non-Avatar film to surpass this mark. Given its current trajectory, it’s likely Avatar will continue to set new records.
Upcoming Sequels: Avatar 3, 4 & 5
Potential for New Milestones
The immense success of Avatar: The Way of Water, which matched the original’s popularity more than a decade after its debut, indicates that the franchise has enduring appeal. With the confirmations of Avatar 3, Avatar 4, and Avatar 5, and shorter gaps between releases, the potential for sustained success is optimistic. Even if future sequels don’t hit the $2 billion mark, they could still solidify remarkable box office achievements.
These upcoming films may propel the franchise toward ambitious targets such as $6 billion, $7 billion, or even $8 billion. If each sequel maintains the momentum established by its predecessors, the franchise could feasibly surpass $10 billion by its conclusion. While ambitious, this projection seemed far-fetched before the success of Avatar: The Way of Water, reinforcing the idea that anything is possible for this series.
Are Other Franchises Likely to Match Avatar’s $3 Billion Record?
Potential Contenders Emerge
Matching Avatar‘s record of achieving $3 billion with only two films will be a challenging endeavor for any franchise, though it remains a possibility. In 2023, two contenders emerged: The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which amassed $1.36 billion, requiring a sequel to generate an additional $1.64 billion to reach Avatar’s milestone.
Another strong candidate is Barbie, which earned $1.446 billion. For a sequel to match Avatar, it would need to collect approximately $1.554 billion. While it’s conceivable that a new franchise might arise to eclipse Avatar‘s achievements, current trends suggest its record will remain firmly entrenched for the foreseeable future.